ST. PAUL'S PARISH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5113, 11 April 1927, Page 2

ST. PAUL'S PARISH.

INSTITUTION OF NEW-VICAR.

INDUCTION CEREMONY.

A particularly dignified and impressive service took place on Friday evening last in St. Paul’s Church, when the new vicar, the Rev. W. G. H. Weadon, was admitted to the charge of the parish by His Lordship the Bishop of Waikato, assisted by the Ven. Archdeacon Cowie. Some time before the hour fixed for the service the buiding was filled to its utmost seating capacity, and extra seats had to be provided for the numbers who continued to arrive. The service began with the entry, at the west door, of the procession, consisting of the lay readers o,f the parochial district, visiting cleigj from other parishes, the churchwardens, the vicar-elect, the archdeacon, and the bishop, wearing a handsome cope and Mitre and preceded by two Servers in cassocks and surplices. When they had all taken their places a shortened form of Evensong was sung, after which the institution by the bishop of the new vicar into the spiritual care of the parish took place, followed by the induction into the charge of the temporalities, which was performed by the archdeacon. The vicar then tolled the church bell to signify to the parishioners his having taken possession of the parish. Before giving his address the bishop took the opportunity of expressing his deep sense of appreciation of the splendid way in which the members of the congregation had held the parish together and kept the church work going all through the eleven months during which they had been without a vicar. His Lordship said he did not know of any single instance in which such conditions had obtained anywhere else and the example set by the parishioners of St. Paul’s, Paeroa, had been a help and an inspiration to the whole; diocese. In a most earnest and forceful sermon His Lordship outlined what the duties of a vicar comprised, and the qualities which the parishioners had a right to expect In him, emphasising first that he must be their priest, not only to offer the Sacrifice of the Altar, but constantly to offer and present the prayers and worship of the congregation in the services of the Church. After the service was over those present reassembled in the Parish Hall, where Dr. Smith, the senior lay reader, on behalf of the parish, extended a welcome to His Lordship the Bishop, this being his first official visit to Paeroa, and to the: new vicar. Short speeches of welcome were also made by Captain R. J. Thorp, People’s Warden, and the clergy from all the neighbouring parishes, after which a really sumptuous supper was served by the members of the Ladies’ Guild and gneatly appreciated by the large assemblage. Later on His Lordship and the Rev. Weadon replied to the speeches and expressed their thanks and the pleasure which the enthusiastic welcome had given them, and a most inspiring and enjoyable function was brought to an end by the giving of the Epissopal Blessing and the singing of the National Anthem.